Packing a Scanner in Luggage?

[bg_nashville]

I will be flying in the very near future and was wondering what has everyone's experience been with packing your scanner in your suitcase? Has anyone ever asked a lot of questions as to why you have it with you? Has where you flying to/from seem to matter? I prefer not to take any carry-ons... I prefer to check everything. Is this asking for my scanner to get stolen? I would I be better off taking a carry-on and packing the scanner there?

I looked back through the forum and didn't see any related threads.

 

[ChrisP]

I fly with my scanners every week (2 to 4 flights a week). I almost always carry them in carry-on bags and not checked luggage, mainly due to damage potential, not so much theft.

I have only been asked once about the scanners and it was because the TSA person knew what they were and was curious about how I liked them.

Feel free to travel with your radios without fear of security. Be mainly concerned with damage or theft...

- Chris

 

[garys]

I've flown dozens of times with a scanner. I always put it in my carry on, not checked luggage. No one has ever looked twice at it. I've traveled with a laptop, scanner, FRS radio, digital camera, and a GPS packed in my carry on. The only thing that anyone has ever looked at is the laptop.

Gary

 

[jpm]

i'll be taking mine on the flight to sc next week for the first time flying. my question is are these scanners ok to be x-rayed as the routine is on the carry on bags.

 

[N_Jay]

i'll be taking mine on the flight to sc next week for the first time flying. my question is are these scanners ok to be x-rayed as the routine is on the carry on bags.

ALMOST ANYTHING can be X-rayed except undevelopped photographic film.

 

[mikey60]

I packed my scanner in luggage once... I'll never do it again. It came of the flight broken (Antenna connector specifically, and the antenna was not connected to the radio).

Take a small carry on, run it through the X-Ray machine (it won't hurt it) and answer any questions the TSA may ask (They've never asked me any in all the flights I've been on) and you'll be fine.

Mike

 

[MacombMonitor]

I will be flying in the very near future and was wondering what has everyone's experience been with packing your scanner in your suitcase? Has anyone ever asked a lot of questions as to why you have it with you? Has where you flying to/from seem to matter? I prefer not to take any carry-ons... I prefer to check everything. Is this asking for my scanner to get stolen? I would I be better off taking a carry-on and packing the scanner there?

I looked back through the forum and didn't see any related threads.

There is no restrictions, or problems, in the U.S. with having a scanner radio inside your check-in luggage. There is also no obligation to tell anyone you have it. Just wrap it up in some of your clothes, to protect it, and worry no more.

 

[nyscan00]

I will be flying in the very near future and was wondering what has everyone's experience been with packing your scanner in your suitcase? Has anyone ever asked a lot of questions as to why you have it with you? Has where you flying to/from seem to matter? I prefer not to take any carry-ons... I prefer to check everything. Is this asking for my scanner to get stolen? I would I be better off taking a carry-on and packing the scanner there?

I looked back through the forum and didn't see any related threads.

There is no restrictions, or problems, in the U.S. with having a scanner radio inside your check-in luggage. There is also no obligation to tell anyone you have it. Just wrap it up in some of your clothes, to protect it, and worry no more.

Was this post 9-11? I am also planning on flying soon and was concerned that security might not allow it in carry-on as they might think it can transmitt. Might they also look at it if its in check-in too?? I know airport security is more vigilent and tends to question more then they used to.... considering post 9-11 and the recent events around the world....

 

[MacombMonitor]

I will be flying in the very near future and was wondering what has everyone's experience been with packing your scanner in your suitcase? Has anyone ever asked a lot of questions as to why you have it with you? Has where you flying to/from seem to matter? I prefer not to take any carry-ons... I prefer to check everything. Is this asking for my scanner to get stolen? I would I be better off taking a carry-on and packing the scanner there?

I looked back through the forum and didn't see any related threads.

There is no restrictions, or problems, in the U.S. with having a scanner radio inside your check-in luggage. There is also no obligation to tell anyone you have it. Just wrap it up in some of your clothes, to protect it, and worry no more.

Was this post 9-11? I am also planning on flying soon and was concerned that security might not allow it in carry-on as they might think it can transmitt. Might they also look at it if its in check-in too?? I know airport security is more vigilent and tends to question more then they used to.... considering post 9-11 and the recent events around the world....

I'm not sure with carry-on. They may want to inspect it, and test it, and tell you not to use it on the plane. It's simple enough to call the airline and ask, rather than speculate.

You can still fly with a hand gun in your "check-in" luggage, (you have to advise them of this), so I'm quite certain a scanner would not be an issue.

 

[N_Jay]

I will be flying in the very near future and was wondering what has everyone's experience been with packing your scanner in your suitcase? Has anyone ever asked a lot of questions as to why you have it with you? Has where you flying to/from seem to matter? I prefer not to take any carry-ons... I prefer to check everything. Is this asking for my scanner to get stolen? I would I be better off taking a carry-on and packing the scanner there?

I looked back through the forum and didn't see any related threads.

There is no restrictions, or problems, in the U.S. with having a scanner radio inside your check-in luggage. There is also no obligation to tell anyone you have it. Just wrap it up in some of your clothes, to protect it, and worry no more.

Was this post 9-11? I am also planning on flying soon and was concerned that security might not allow it in carry-on as they might think it can transmitt. Might they also look at it if its in check-in too?? I know airport security is more vigilent and tends to question more then they used to.... considering post 9-11 and the recent events around the world....

ONE MORE TIME!!!

POST 9/11 AND ALL!!!!!

You may carry what ever type of radio equipment you want onto a plane.
You may NOT use it.


IF you act like an ass, you are likely to get questioned about it.

If you act like enough of an ass, they will tell you that you can not take it aboard.

Their decision is FINAL! (Unless you want to protest it to the nice FBI agent you will be talking too if you continue to act like an ass!)

 

[jimsokol]

Since you can't lock your luggage (unless you use TSA approved locks), IMHO it is actually better to have it in a carry-on bag. As mikey60 and others have said, I have encountered no problems with it in carry-on (several times since 9/11, and twice last week). In fact I have gotten more crap about a laptop, and have gotten that swabbed more than once and nothing was said about the 296d that was also in the laptop bag. Some examples are LAX (Los Angeles) and Chicago O'Hare.

...jim

 

[Al42]

ONE MORE TIME!!!

POST 9/11 AND ALL!!!!!

You may carry what ever type of radio equipment you want onto a plane.
You may NOT use it.


IF you act like an ass, you are likely to get questioned about it.

If you act like enough of an ass, they will tell you that you can not take it aboard.

Their decision is FINAL! (Unless you want to protest it to the nice FBI agent you will be talking too if you continue to act like an ass!)

All correct.

I always fly with at least 1 ham walkie talkie and my PDA/GPS on belt clips and a laptop in a case. Sometimes I'm asked to turn on one or another of them to show that they're real radios, not cases filled with some explosive. I've had the laptop "sniffed" (chemically) exactly once.

Security doesn't care whether you use a transmitter on a plane or scan the aircraft - all they care about is security. Of course the safest way to fly, once you're on the plane, is with the batteries removed from any signal generator, like a cell phone or even a scanner. It can't accidentally turn on with the batteries in your pocket.

 

[screxer]

I bought my Pro-96 while on vacation in Atlanta in March of this year. I brought it back to California as carry-on, unconcealed, in a shopping bag....there was no problems. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[inigo88]

I flew with two scanners (a Pro-93 and a Sporty's JD-100 VHF/UHF airband) carry-on in a backpack last year. A TSA guy did ask to inspect my bag once after it was x-rayed. What happened was I had both the antennas disconnected and in a seperate pocket, and the Pro-93 rubber duck has a metal wire inside in a cork-screw pattern that goes up from the BNC connector at the base. On the X-ray screen just sitting there, it apparently looked like some sort of midievil-torture-weapon :twisted:. I was cool about it, the TSA guy was courtious and just took a quick look in my bag and said, "Ohhhh.. antennas! Hahahaha!!!" We both had a good laugh and he wished me a good evening.

You have nothing to worry about.

-Inigo

 

[sking128]

Carry-on is the way to go. I've been through DIA, Colorado Springs, Charlotte, Greensboro, and Dallas, and no one has looked twice.
Have a good trip

 

[BaLa]

I had my scanner on the airplane once.

Had it in my carry-on.
The only thing questioned was the antenna.

 

[Microwavemike]

to carry on or not

I would never leave anything of value in checked baggage. Too big of a chance
For either an ex burger flipper or baggage monkey to lift your valuables.
Carry it in your carry on bag. It is against the FAR’s to operate your radio
Equipment once the aircraft is moving.

I have carried on VHF,UHF handhelds, keyloaders, rib and programming
Cables and spare batteries along with the labtop in my carry on bag with
No problems.
The only comment I ever heard was” lots of batteries here”.

Enjoy your trip.


mm

 

[MississippiPI]

Scanner in luggage

It's a no brainer to not pack it for God's sake--come on, really. I would also advise upon arriving at the checkpoint that you advise the folks what you have and where it is; this will avoid lot of wasted time and embarrassment for you.

Jimmy

 

[Admin0140434]

...you can't lock your luggage (unless you use TSA approved locks)...

id like to correct this... i used to work at BWI Airport... you can send a lock down with your bag... and request that the TSA agent inspecting your bag lock it on there for you... everytime i've heard it requested... they had no problem slapping your lock on your luggage after inspection...

then again... there are possibly different procedures for each airport...

 

[BaLa]

I thought I read somewhere once, that one could not use scanners on board a commerical airliner.

any truth to this?


couldn't find any info to back this up..